U.S. patent application number 16/738166 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-23 for method for charging self-charging supercapacitor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Tsinghua University HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to SHOU-SHAN FAN, CHANG-HONG LIU, ZHI-LING LUO.
Application Number | 20200234892 16/738166 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 71609073 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20200234892 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LUO; ZHI-LING ; et
al. |
July 23, 2020 |
METHOD FOR CHARGING SELF-CHARGING SUPERCAPACITOR
Abstract
A method for charging self-charging supercapacitor includes:
providing a self-charging supercapacitor which includes a
supercapacitor first electrode, a supercapacitor second electrode,
a first electrolyte, and a metal electrode; the metal electrode and
the supercapacitor second electrode form an Ohmic contact, the
metal electrode is spaced apart from and opposite to the
supercapacitor first electrode. Electrically connecting the metal
electrode and the supercapacitor first electrode with a second
electrolyte.
Inventors: |
LUO; ZHI-LING; (Beijing,
CN) ; LIU; CHANG-HONG; (Beijing, CN) ; FAN;
SHOU-SHAN; (Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Tsinghua University
HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD. |
Beijing
New Taipei |
|
CN
TW |
|
|
Family ID: |
71609073 |
Appl. No.: |
16/738166 |
Filed: |
January 9, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01G 11/28 20130101;
H01G 11/60 20130101; H01G 11/52 20130101; H01G 11/36 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H01G 11/36 20060101
H01G011/36; H01G 11/28 20060101 H01G011/28; H01G 11/60 20060101
H01G011/60; H01G 11/52 20060101 H01G011/52 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 23, 2019 |
CN |
201910065352.8 |
Claims
1. A method for charging self-charging supercapacitor, comprising:
providing a self-charging supercapacitor which comprises a
supercapacitor first electrode, a supercapacitor second electrode,
a first electrolyte, and a metal electrode; wherein: the
supercapacitor first electrode and the supercapacitor second
electrode are parallel with and spaced apart from each other, the
supercapacitor first electrode, the supercapacitor second
electrode, and the first electrolyte together form a
supercapacitor, the metal electrode and the supercapacitor second
electrode form an Ohmic contact, the metal electrode is spaced
apart from and opposite to the supercapacitor first electrode; and
electrically connecting the metal electrode and the supercapacitor
first electrode with a second electrolyte.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein a gap is defined between the
metal electrode and the supercapacitor first electrode, the second
electrolyte is filled in the gap.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein a width of the gap is m a range
from about 0 .mu.m to about 100 .mu.m.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second electrolyte is
sweat.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein a conductive adhesive is located
between the metal electrode and the supercapacitor second
electrode.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the conductive adhesive is silver
paste.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein further comprising a separator
sandwiched between the metal electrode and the supercapacitor first
electrode.
8. The method of claim 7, wherein the separator extends beyond an
edge of the supercapacitor.
9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second electrolyte fills into
the gap via the separator.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first electrolyte is spaced
apart from the metal electrode.
11. The method of claim 1, wherein a material of the metal
electrode is selected from the group consisting of magnesium,
aluminum, zinc, and iron.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the metal
electrode is in a range from about 25 .mu.m to about 100 .mu.m.
13. The method of claim 1, wherein the supercapacitor first
electrode is a carbon nanotube/polyaniline composite film.
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the carbon nanotube/polyaniline
composite film comprises a carbon nanotube network structure and a
polyaniline layer.
15. The method of claim 14, wherein the carbon nanotube network
structure is a free-standing film network and comprises a plurality
of carbon nanotubes combined by van der Waals attractive force
therebetween.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the carbon nanotube network
structure comprises a plurality of micropores defined by the
plurality of carbon nanotubes.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the metal electrode is
configured as a negative electrode of a metal-air cell, and the
supercapacitor first electrode is configured as a positive
electrode of the metal-air cell.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The application is related to co-pending applications
entitled, "SELF-CHARGING SUPERCAPACITOR", concurrently filed (Atty.
Docket No. US74986); "SELF-CHARGING SUPERCAPACITOR", concurrently
filed (Atty. Docket No. US74988).
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of energy
storage, and more particularly to supercapacitor.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Supercapacitors are promising energy storage devices with a
capacitance value much higher than other capacitors, but with lower
voltage limits. However, supercapacitors can only store but not
harvest energy.
[0004] What is needed, therefore, is to provide a supercapacitor
which can both harvest and store energy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Many aspects of the embodiments can be better understood
with reference to the following drawings. The components in the
drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. the emphasis instead
being, placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the
embodiments. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts throughout the several views.
[0006] FIG. 1 is a structural schematic view of one embodiment of a
self-charging supercapacitor.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a photo of a self-charging supercapacitor being in
normal state and bending state, respectively.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a current-voltage curve of an Ohmic contact
junction formed by a metal electrode and a carbon
nanotube/polyaniline composite film.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a flow chart of one embodiment of a method for
charging self-charging supercapacitor.
[0010] FIG. 5 is another schematic view of the self-charging
supercapacitor in FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the self-charging
supercapacitor in FIG. 1 being in self-charging mode and
non-self-charging mode, respectively,
[0012] FIG. 7 is a structural schematic view of one embodiment of a
self-charging supercapacitor with through holes.
[0013] FIG. 8 is an output voltage-time curve of the self-charging
supercapacitor in FIG 1.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a structural schematic view of one embodiment of a
self-charging supercapacitor.
[0015] FIG. 10 is schematic view of one embodiment of a plurality
of self-charging supercapacitors connected in series.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of
illustration, where appropriate, reference numerals have been
repeated among the different figures to indicate corresponding or
analogous elements. In addition, numerous specific details are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the
embodiments described herein. However, it will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art that the embodiments described
herein can be practiced without these specific details. In other
instances, methods, procedures, and components have not been
described in detail so as not to obscure the related relevant
feature being described. The drawings are not necessarily to scale,
and the proportions of certain parts may be exaggerated to be
better illustrate details and features. The description is not to
be considered as limiting the scope of the embodiments described
herein.
[0017] Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure
will now be presented.
[0018] The connection can be such that the objects are permanently
connected or releasably connected. The term "outside" refers to a
region that is beyond the outermost confines of a physical object.
The term "inside" indicates that at least a portion of a region is
partially contained within a boundary formed by the object. The
term "substantially" is defined to essentially conforming to the
particular dimension, shape or other word that substantially
modifies, such that the component need not he exact. For example,
substantially cylindrical means that the object resembles a
cylinder, but can have one or more deviations from a true cylinder.
The term "comprising" 5means "including, but not necessarily
limited to"; it specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or
membership in a so-described combination, group, series and the
like.
[0019] FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of a self-charging supercapacitor
10a. The self-charging supercapacitor 10a includes a supercapacitor
first electrode 110, a supercapacitor second electrode 120, first
electrolyte 130, and a metal electrode 210a.
[0020] The supercapacitor first electrode 110 and the
supercapacitor second electrode 120 are substantially parallel to
and spaced apart from each other. The supercapacitor first
electrode 110, the supercapacitor second electrode 120, and the
first electrolyte 130 together form a supercapacitor. The metal
electrode 210a and the supercapacitor second electrode 120 folio an
Ohmic contact. The metal electrode 210a is spaced apart from and
opposite to the supercapacitor first electrode 110. The metal
electrode 210a is configured as a negative electrode of a metal-air
cell, and the supercapacitor first electrode 110 is configured as a
positive electrode of the same metal-air cell.
[0021] The supercapacitor first electrode 110 and the
supercapacitor second electrode 120 can be made of any material
suitable for supercapacitor electrode. In one embodiment, the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 and the supercapacitor second
electrode 120 each includes a carbon nanotube/polyaniline
(CNT/PANI) composite film.
[0022] The CNT/PANI composite film includes a carbon nanotube
network structure and a polyaniline layer. The carbon nanotube
network structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes combined
by van der Waals attractive force therebetween and forming a
free-standing film network. The term "free-standing" includes, but
is not limited to, a structure that does not have to be supported
by a substrate and can sustain its own weight when it is hoisted by
a portion of the structure without any significant damage to its
structural integrity. The free-standing property is achieved only
due to the van der Waals attractive force between adjacent carbon
nanotubes. The carbon nanotube network structure includes a
plurality of micropores defined by adjacent carbon nanotubes. A
size of the plurality of micropores can be in a range from about 60
nm to about 400 nm.
[0023] The polyaniline layer is coated on a surface of the carbon
nanotube network structure. The polyaniline layer wraps around the
plurality of carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotube network
structure serves as the core and the template to support the
polyaniline layer. The CNT/PANI composite film is thin,
light-weight, and flexible because of the plurality of carbon
nanotubes and microspores. FIG. 2 shows the CNT/PANI composite film
being in normal state and bending, state, respectively.
[0024] The size and shape of the supercapacitor first electrode 110
and the supercapacitor second electrode 120 can be substantially
the same. The length of the supercapacitor first electrode 110 and
the supercapacitor second electrode 120 can range from about 20 mm
to about 90 mm, the width of the supercapacitor first electrode 110
and the supercapacitor second electrode 120 can range from about 5
mm to about 20 mm, and the thickness of the supercapacitor first
electrode 110 and the supercapacitor second electrode 120 can range
from about 50 .mu.m to about 200 .mu.m.
[0025] In one embodiment, the supercapacitor first electrode 110
and the supercapacitor second electrode 120 are rectangular sheets
with a length of about 45 millimeter, a width of about 10
millimeter, and a thickness of about 100 micrometer.
[0026] The supercapacitor first electrode 110 includes a first
surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, and the
first surface is spaced apart from and opposite to the
supercapacitor second electrode 120. Similarly, the supercapacitor
second electrode 120 includes a first surface and a second surface
opposite to the first surface, and the second surface is spaced
apart from and opposite to the supercapacitor first electrode
110.
[0027] The supercapacitor first electrode 110 can be further
divided into a first portion 111, a second portion 112, and a third
portion 113, wherein the first portion 111 and the third portion
113 are spaced by the second portion 112. Similarly, the
supercapacitor second electrode 120 can be further divided into a
fourth portion 121 a fifth portion 122, and a sixth portion 123,
wherein the fourth portion 121 and the sixth portion 123 are spaced
by the fifth portion 122.
[0028] The size and shape of the first portion 111 and the fourth
portion 121 can be substantially the same. The first portion 111 is
spaced apart from and opposite to the fourth portion 121 to thrill
a first gap. The first electrolyte 130 is filled into the first
gap. The first electrolyte 130 can be supercapacitor electrolyte,
such as polyvinyl alcohol/H.sub.2SO.sub.4 (PVA/H.sub.2SO.sub.4) gel
electrolyte. The first portion 111, the fourth portion 121, and the
first electrolyte 130 together from a supercapacitor 100.
[0029] The size and shape of the third portion 113 and the sixth
portion 123 can he substantially the same. The third portion 113 is
spaced apart from and opposite to the sixth portion 123. The metal
electrode 210a is located on a surface of the sixth portion 123.
And the metal electrode 210a is spaced apart from and opposite to
the third portion 113. The material of the metal electrode 210a can
be magnesium, aluminum, zinc, iron, or the like. The length and
width of the metal electrode 210a can be the same as the sixth
portion 123. The thickness of the metal electrode 210a can be in a
range from about 25 .mu.m to about 100 .mu.m. In one embodiment,
the metal electrode 210a is an aluminum foil with a thickness of 50
.mu.m.
[0030] The metal electrode 210a and the sixth portion 123 are Ohmic
contacted at the junction. A conductive adhesive can be located
between the metal electrode 210a and the sixth portion 123. In one
embodiment, the conductive adhesive is silver paste. FIG. 3 shows
the current-voltage curve of the silver paste assisted
junction.
[0031] The metal electrode 210a is spaced apart from and opposite
to the supercapacitor first electrode 110. In one embodiment, a
separator 220 is sandwiched between the metal electrode 210a and
the supercapacitor first electrode 110 in order to prevent the
metal electrode 210a from contacting the supercapacitor first
electrode 110. The separator 220 can be any separators for battery
system. In one embodiment, the separator 220 is a filter paper
pasted on the surface of the third portion 113.
[0032] In one embodiment, at least one insulating layer 140 is
located between the second portion 112 and the fifth portion 122 to
prevent direct contact of the supercapacitor first electrode 110
and the supercapacitor second electrode 120. The insulating layer
140 can be directly connected with the second portion 112 and the
fifth portion 122 or not. The insulating layer 140 can be located
on the surface of the second portion 112 opposite to the fifth
portion 122. The insulating layer 140 also can be located on the
surface of the fifth portion 122 opposite to the second portion
112. In one embodiment, both surfaces of the second portion 112
opposite to the fifth portion 122 and the surface of the fifth
portion 122 opposite to the second portion 112 are coated with the
insulating layer 140. The insulating layer 140 can prevent direct
contact of the supercapacitor first electrode 110 and the
supercapacitor second electrode 120.
[0033] In one embodiment, the shapes of the first portion 111, the
second portion 112, and the third portion 113 are rectangular with
equal width. Specifically, the first portion 111 is 23 mm in length
and 10 mm in width, the second portion 112 is 10 mm in length and
10 mm in width, and the third portion 113 is 12 mm in length and 10
mm in width. Similarly, the shapes of the fourth portion 121, the
fifth portion 122, and the sixth portion 123 are rectangular with
equal width. Specifically, the fourth portion 121 is 23 mm in
length and 10 mm in width, the fifth portion 122 is 10 mm in length
and 10 mm in width, and the sixth portion 123 is 12 mm in length
and 10 mm in width.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 4, a method for charging the self-charging
supercapacitor is provided according to one embodiment. The method
includes, at least the following blocks:
[0035] S1, providing the self-charging supercapacitor 10a which
includes a supercapacitor first electrode 110, a supercapacitor
second electrode 120, a first electrolyte 130, and a metal
electrode 210a; the supercapacitor first electrode 110 and the
supercapacitor second electrode 120 are parallel to and spaced
apart from each other, the supercapacitor first electrode 110, the
supercapacitor second electrode 120, and the first electrolyte 130
together form a supercapacitor, the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor second electrode 120 form an Ohmic contact, the
metal electrode 210a is spaced apart from and opposite to the
supercapacitor first electrode 110; and
[0036] S2, electrically connecting the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 with a second electrolyte
230.
[0037] Referring to FIG, 5, the self-charging supercapacitor 10a
can be divided into two units according to different functions,
namely a supercapacitor block 100 and a metal-air cell block 200.
The supercapacitor unit 100 includes part of the supercapacitor
first electrode 110, part of the supercapacitor second electrode
120, and the first electrolyte 130. The metal-air cell unit 200
includes part of the supercapacitor first electrode 110, the metal
electrode 210a, and separator 220, wherein the supercapacitor first
electrode 110 also serves as a positive electrode of a metal-air
cell.
[0038] Referring to FIG. 6. In self-charging mode, the metal
electrode 210a and the supercapacitor first electrode 110 are
electrically conducted by the second electrolyte 230, the metal-air
cell unit 200 outputs power to charge the supercapacitor unit 100;
in non-self-charging mode, the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 are not electrically conducted,
the metal-air cell unit 200 does not output power.
[0039] The self-charging supercapacitor 10a can switch between the
self-charging mode and the non-self-charging mode by controlling
the second electrolyte 230. The second electrolyte 230 can be
applied between the metal electrode 210a and the supercapacitor
first electrode 110 by touching or pressing. The second electrolyte
230 can be sweat or NaCl solution and can be applied by a finger or
a swab. For example, touch or press the metal-air cell unit 200
with a sweaty finger or a swab soaked with the NaCl solution, so
that the metal electrode 210a and the supercapacitor first
electrode 110 are conducted through sweat or NaCl solution.
[0040] The gap between the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 can be in a range from about 0
.mu.m to about 100 .mu.m, so that the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 can be easily conducted by the
second electrolyte 230.
[0041] The gap between the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 can be reduced by pressing the
metal-air cell unit 200. In one embodiment, the metal-air cell unit
200 is pressed by a finger or a swab. The pressure can be applied
to the outer surface of the third portion 113, the outer surface of
the sixth portion 123, or the separator 220.
[0042] Furthermore, the separator 220 can extend beyond the edge of
the supercapacitor first electrode 110 as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.
2. A swab soaked with the NaCl solution can directly contact the
separator 220 to make the NaCl solution quickly fill the gap. The
second electrolyte 220 fills into the gap via the separator
220.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 7, in one embodiment, the third portion
113, sixth portion 123, and/or the metal electrode 210a can have
through holes 240. The second electrolyte 230 can flow into the gap
between the metal electrode 210a and the supercapacitor first
electrode 110 through the through hole 240.
[0044] The self-charging supercapacitor 10a can be used as a power
source of wearable electronic products. In that case, the
self-charging supercapacitor 10a can be located close to the skin
surface, the sweat generated by human body gradually flows into the
gap between the metal electrode 210a and the supercapacitor first
electrode 110, so that the metal electrode 210a and the
supercapacitor first electrode 110 are conducted.
[0045] Referring to FIG. 8, in Curve 1, after pressing the
separator 220 using a wet swab soaked with a 1M NaCl solution, the
self-charging supercapacitor 10a is quickly charged to -0.50 V
within 14 seconds, and further charged to -0.69V at the 290th
second.
[0046] The energy stored in the self-charging supercapacitor 10a is
25.6 mJ/cm.sup.2 filled 71.4% of its energy density, in Curve 2,
after pressing the separator 220 using a wet swab soaked with a
0.085M NaCl solution (similar to human sweat), the self-charging
supercapacitor 10a charged to -0.60 V at the 556th second.
[0047] FIG, 9 shows an embodiment of a self-charging supercapacitor
10b. The self-charging supercapacitor 10b includes a supercapacitor
first electrode 110, a supercapacitor second electrode 120, first
electrolyte 130, and a metal electrode 2101).
[0048] The self-charging supercapacitor 101 in the embodiment shown
in FIG. 9 is similar to the self-charging supercapacitor 10a in the
embodiment shown in FIG. 1, except the connection relationship of
the metal electrode 210b and the supercapacitor second electrode
120.
[0049] In one embodiment, a part of the metal electrode 210b is
Ohmic contacted with a surface of the supercapacitor second
electrode 120, and another part of the metal electrode 210b is
disposed opposite to the supercapacitor first electrode 110 as a
negative electrode of a metal-air cell.
[0050] The metal electrode 210b can bend under external force. The
material of the metal electrode 210b can be magnesium, aluminum,
zinc, iron, or the like. In one embodiment, the metal electrode
210b is an aluminum foil with a thickness of 50 .mu.m.
[0051] A plurality of self-charging supercapacitors 10a, 10b can be
assembled in series or in parallel. Referring to FIG. 10, three
self-charging supercapacitors 10a connected in series can reach an
output voltage more than 1.7 V, which is enough to drive a light
emitting diode (LED).
[0052] The embodiments shown and described above are only examples.
Even though numerous characteristics and advantages of the present
technology have been set forth in the forego description, together
with details of the structure and function of the present
disclosure, the disclosure is illustrative only and changes may be
made in the detail, including in matters of shape, size and
arrangement of the parts within the principles of the present
disclosure up to, and including, the full extent established by the
broad general meaning of the terms used in the claims.
[0053] Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps of methods
described may be removed, others may be added, and the sequence of
steps may be altered. The description and the claims drawn to a
method may include some indication in reference to certain steps.
However, the indication used is only to be viewed for
identification purposes and not as a suggestion as to an order for
the steps.
* * * * *